June 14, 2024
Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway
Auburn Ca.
Michael Kirby Story and Photos
If you like speedway racing that involves a little bumping and a few crashes here and there then Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway in Auburn Ca. was as their slogan says, “The place to be on Friday nights.” I don’t know if it was a full moon or not but the racing was all out exciting, and the riders were on it thrilling a near capacity crowd.
The Extreme Sidecars made their second of five appearances of the season at Fast Friday’s, and they put on an unbelievable show. Showing up more than ready to get it on, and always fan favorites at Fast Friday’s, these crazy three-wheeled teams on their 1000cc trikes did not disappoint.
Five teams made the trip to Fast Friday’s and the team of Joe Jones and Tom Summers came out on top winning the sidecar main event. Jones and Summers dropped only one of their heat races and came through in the main event. The team of Kevin Kale and Johnny Glover were second and Peter Konrad and Kenny Hall were third. A frightening crash in the main that involved Jones and Summers and Robert and Laurie Curry. The mishap took the Curry’s out of the running for the evening. The main was tight and Jones and Summers and the Curry’s got a little close on the back straight-away and the Curry’s bike flipped throwing each of them off the bike and on the track. After a few tense minutes as the paramedics did their job along with Fast Friday’s staff both Curry’s were helped to their feet as the crowd applauded them as they made their way off the track and to the pits. All the Extreme Sidecars did a great job putting on a fantastic professional show for the Fast Friday’s fans.
Broc Nicol who travels to Auburn from Southern California each week to race at Fast Friday’s got into the winner’s circle in a big way with a double-double. Only the second time this season a double-double has been earned. Nicol won both division I main events in the scratch and handicap programs. The wins were his first main event wins of the season. Following right behind Nicol, Bart Bast finished second in both the scratch and handicap main events.
Coming out of the inside lane at the start Nicol got a good gate and led from start to finish. Bast, who won the scratch main event last week, gave chase and worked on trying to catch Nicol for the entire race but could not get close to the fastest man of the night. Bast had to settle for second place. Charlie Trana was third and Billy Janniro was fourth.
Nicol, struggling in the early handicap heats put it together for the main event and racing from the 40-yard line worked his way to the front passing Daniel Faria who starts off the 10-yard line. Faria led for most of the race riding on a new engine. After passing Faria is was a cinch to the finish line. Battling for second place Bast, who starts on the 20-yard line passed Faria near the finish line and grabbed second place, Faria was third.
Antonio Coffman picked up his first main event win of the season in the support class winning the main event. New to Fast Friday’s but an experienced flat track racer; Jeff Spohr was second in his first speedway race. Leading for most of the race Larry Staggs, another flat tracker new to speedway racing for only the second time on a speedway bike, fell on the last lap near the finish line leaving it wide open for Coffman.
Brian Leventon won the support consolation race and LC Veale was second.
Darren Armbruster won the Youth 250 main event in a thrilling finish. Jameson Hutchinson led Armbruster for most of the race having a great ride, with Armbruster in the unfamiliar position of having to chase. Armbruster showing why he sports the AMA number one plate for winning the Youth 250 championship last season skillfully caught Hutchinson near the finish line for first place.
Still unbeaten this season at Fast Friday’s Riley Rearick won the Youth 150 main event. In another crash, Leeann Emerson fell on the back straight-away and Hudson Jones also went down behind her. Again, the paramedics did what they do and helped both riders up. Rearick, already in the lead, avoided the crash and took first place for his sixth Youth 150 main event of the season. Hudson was awarded second place and Gavin Evans Seely was third.
The racing action continues next week at Fast Friday’s June 21 as the Team Challenge continues with round three. The Law Tigers lead Team IFC 18-17 so the racing will be serious. Add this to a great speedway program for a fantastic night of thrilling racing.
Results for 6-14-24
Division I Scratch Main Event
1-Broc Nicol, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Charlie Trana 4-Billy Janniro
Division I Handicap Main Event
1-Broc Nicol, 2-Bart Bast, 3-Daniel Faria
Support Class Main Event
1-Antonio Coffman, 2-Jeff Spohr, 3-Catherine Moore
Support Class Consolation
1-Brian Leventon, 2-LC Veale
Youth 250 Main Event
1-Darren Armbruster, 2-Jameson Hutchinson, Caden Carvikas
Youth 150 Main Event
1-Riley Rearick, 2-Hudson Jones, 3-Gavin Evans Seely, 4-Zander Schroeder
Extreme Sidecars Main Event (Round Two)